German opposition loses Snowden hearing bid

Dec. 12, 2014

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's highest court has thrown out a bid by opposition parties to force the government to allow former NSA contractor Edward Snowden to come to Berlin to testify about the agency's activities.

Members of the opposition Greens and Left Party want a parliamentary panel investigating the National Security Agency's activities to hear Snowden in person. However, the government doesn't want to allow Snowden into the country, citing the potential damage to relations with the U.S.

The Federal Constitutional Court said Friday it has rejected as legally inadmissible a suit by the two opposition parties against the government's stance.

Government parties on the panel suggested questioning Snowden in Moscow, but he has said through a lawyer he will only speak to the panel if allowed to do so Germany.